English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

rate

rayt
noun
1
A measure of how fast something happens, or how one quantity compares to another.
"The car was traveling at a rate of sixty miles per hour."
"The unemployment rate fell last month."
2
A fixed price charged for something.
"The hotel offers a discounted rate for weekly stays."
verb
1
To give something a score or ranking based on quality.
"Customers rated the app five stars."
"Critics rated the film highly."

How to Use Rate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA measure of speed/proportion, a set price, or (as a verb) to judge and score something.

Common pairings
interest rate growth rate rate a movie at any rate

Word Forms

rated past tense, rated past tense, rated past tense, rates plural, rates singular, rates singular, rates singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rate” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The car was traveling at a _____ of sixty miles per hour.

Etymology

From Latin ratus, "fixed, calculated" — the same root that gives us "ratio" and "ration."

Rhymes for rate

See all rhymes for rate →
Definitions: FreeDict original editorial